Desert RATS MTB Classic

Details

Desert RATS MTB ClassicFruita, COMay 11, 2019

“Happy positive staff. I mean how often in a race do you pull up to an aid station and have at least 2 staff members offer to hand you food and fill your water bottles.”

“The course and scenery are great.”

“The Zion Curtain was undoubtedly the highlight of the course.”

On the western slope of Colorado, the famous Kokopelli Trail winds its way through sagebrush, ledgy slickrock, winding double track, sandy washes, fast jeep trails and crosses the state line toward Moab, Utah. This trail is the site of the Desert RATS MTB Classic. The 50K & 100K endurance mountain bike races are challenging tests of stamina. Held in May, it’s a great early season test of fitness and a great reason to keep training through the winter and early spring. The courses cover a wide variety of terrain including challenging technical terrain, grueling climbs, fast flats and tricky descents.

This event is challenging and should not be taken lightly. While it is not designed for the casual rider, you can finish with focused and adequate training. The 100K race will have five well stocked aid stations along the course. Every racer that finishes the 100K in less than 6hrs receives a “Gonzo” finisher’s award, we’ll have a sub-10hr “Enduro” award, and three deep awards in men’s and women’s categories. The 50K racers will have three aid stations and will receive a finisher’s memento and age group awards. 50K racers will also have 10hrs to complete the course.

While weather is never a sure thing, typically in the Fruita and Moab area at this time of year, you can expect temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees with very little chance of rain.

***New in 2019***

We’re working on hosting our awards at Fruita’s biggest and best party of the year!

Race Categories

50K & 100K: Sport: Under 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+, Single Speed

100K Only: Pro/Open

Pre-Race There will be packet pick-up/registration on Friday evening, as well as Saturday morning at the Start/Finish area. Packet Pick-Up & Late Registration will be at the the Fruita Community Center (324 N Coulson St in Fruita) on Friday from 6:30-8:00p. All racers picking up their packet on Friday night must still check in at the start line no later than 10min prior to the start of the race. Drop bags can be brought to racer check-in the evening before the race and will be brought to the Westwater Aid Station.

Awards/Party

The party for all racers and Awards Ceremony will be at 6:30p on Saturday at Colorado Backcountry Biker, 1150 S Park Square in Fruita. Followed by a party with dinner and microbrews at Civic Center Park! Don’t miss the opportunity to socialize with other racers and win raffle prizes.

Customized cowbell awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each category.

Men’s & Women’s winners of each of distances (100K, 50K) will receive comp entries to next year’s races.

Customized dog tag awards will be awarded to all finishers as they cross the finish line.

“Gonzo” finisher’s awards will be given to anyone finishing the 100K in less than 6 hours.

“Enduro” finisher’s awards will be given to 100K racers completing the course between 6 and 10 hours.

All 50K racers will receive a finisher’s award.

Placer’s awards will be distributed at the awards ceremony Saturday night.

Awards and mementos will not be mailed after the event.

Weather While the weather is never a sure thing, typically in the Fruita and Moab area/s at this time of year, you can expect temperatures between 65-75 degrees with very little chance of rain.

Accomodations This year’s host hotel will be the Super 8 in Fruita. Call them today at 970-858-0808 and mention Rabbit Valley to request our special group rate, base price of $73/night + taxes.

Crews Crews will be allowed at the Westwater Aid Station (parking is only allowed on the west side of the road). Crews will not be allowed at the Zion Curtain Aid Station.

Dropping Out While we would love for there to be no drop outs, we understand that it happens. Please be self-aware and acknowledge your body’s needs, as you will most likely be the first to know. There are a number of ways to cut out sections of the course to get yourself back to the Finish Area and it is always an option to take a break for however long you need within the cut-offs. We will assist with transportation to the finish line if necessary, when vehicles become available. This is not an event where we leave you hanging. Be sure to tell a race official when you drop out; we will be out there until every racer is accounted for.

Bibs Racers must display their race numbers at all times.

Medical There will be radio contact available with a certified EMT, and each aid station will be stocked with a WFR-standard medical kit containing all necessary materials to nurse any bumps, cuts, bruises, or blisters.

Drop Bags Drop bags can be brought to racer check-in the evening before the race. Make sure that the drop bag has your name on it. Drop bags will be transported to the Westwater Aid Station (50K – 16.6mi / 100K – 30.3mi). Note that drop bags will not be returned to the Start/Finish Line until all the racers have been through the turnaround and the Aid Station has been closed.

Staying on Course & Leave No Trace Racers must stay on the designated course. Any racer that goes off the designated course (i.e. shortcutting) will result in a disqualification.

Cryptobiotic soil is the foundation of desert plant life. This dark, knobby crust is made up of many different living organisms and plays a vital role in maintaining the desert eco-system. However, this soil is extremely fragile and can take decades to grow. Even a footstep can damage the crust for decades, having lasting impacts on the desert environment. Stay the trail!

Unforeseeable Circumstances In the case of unforeseeable circumstances due to weather or other extenuating circumstances that prevents the safe continuation of the race, race officials may end the race at any given time. This rule will be implemented in the most extreme cases for the safety of the racers or officials.

Finish/Cut-Offs

7:00a – Race Start

9:30a – Zion Curtain #1

11:00a – Zion Curtain #2

12:00p – Westwater Turnaround

1:00p – cut-off for 100K 6 hour Gonzo award

1:30p – Zion Curtain #3

3:30p – Zion Curtain #4

5:00p – cut-off for 10 hour Enduro Finisher’s Award

5:00p – cut-off for 50K

Local Laws Federal, State, and County laws and ordinances must be followed at all times.

Refund Policy

30 Days or more prior to the Event: 85% credit of registration fee (excluding UltraSignup fees).

Less than 30 days prior to the Event: No refunds or credit given.

Credits may be applied to any future Gemini Adventures race and will be valid for 12 months.

Registered runners may also switch between distances. No refunds or credit will be given for dropping down in distance. If stepping up in distance, the added current pricing of the longer distance will be charged (excluding UltraSignup fees).

To request credits, log in to your UltraSignup account, and go to Registration History. Select Edit for the event, and scroll to the bottom of the page where Cancel Registration is linked. Follow the prompts.

Course

This event is run on the world famous Kokopelli and classic Zion Curtain trails. This section has a wonderful mix of technical singletrack trail, big climbs and heinous descents, and even some jeep roads. This is an out and back course with a total of 5 aid stations for the 100K and 3 aid stations for the 50K.

Aid Stations Food and drink may be supplied to any racer, by anyone at the Westwater Aid Station. A strict Leave No Trace policy will be implemented. Race management will supply aid stations with water, sports drink, energy gels, and trash receptacles along the course. Aid stations will NOT have aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.

Zion Curtain Aid #2 (24.3mi) – Right out of the Aid Station you will begin a steep loose climb. The challenge will be topping out without dismounting. I DON’T BELIEVE IT CAN BE DONE!

Zion Curtain to Westwater Aid Station Turnaround (30.3mi) – This section starts with a short (maybe rideable) climb where you will gain over 400′ in just over a half mile. After a short easy section to catch your breath you will begin the technical ledgey descent off the mesa.

Westwater Aid Station Turnaround to Zion Curtain Aid Station #3 (36.3mi) – The ledgey technical ascent will give way to to a nice flowy trail right before you drop down the steep half mile descent to the Zion Curtain Aid Station. You will need to keep your bike under control as there may be riders coming up that same section of trail.

Zion Curtain Aid Station #4 (50.0mi) to Finish – You will ride this loop in reverse with the flat section at the start. This is a strenuous section with a steep treacherous section (most will have to dismount) at the start of the descent to end the loop.

Zion Curtain to Westwater Aid Station Turnaround (16.6mi) – This section starts with a short (maybe rideable) climb where you will gain over 400′ in just over a half mile. After a short easy section to catch your breath you will begin the technical ledgey descent off the mesa.

Westwater Aid Station Turnaround to Zion Curtain Aid Station #3 (22.6mi) – The ledgey technical ascent will give way to to a nice flowy trail right before you drop down the steep half mile descent to the Zion Curtain aid station. You will need to keep your bike under control as there may be riders coming up that same section of trail.

Zion Curtain to Finish – The challenge isn’t over until you ride the last 10.6mi of rolling hills and rocky terrain back to the finish line.

Start/Finish:

From I-70, take Exit 2 for Rabbit Valley (about 17 miles west of Fruita). Turn South and drive along the overpass approximately ¼ mile until you see the start/finish area.